Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, Book 1) by JL Bryan

 

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Jenny Morton is the pure definition of an outcast. Weird, quite and anti-social, Jenny kept to herself for good reason; she is hiding a dark secret. Jenny has the ability to spread a deadly plague with just a single touch (“Jenny pox.”) Never getting close enough to anyone for them to touch her, Jenny developed the precautionary measure of wearing gloves and long sleeves no matter what time of year. She had begun to accept the fact that she would more than likely end up alone.

Then she meets Seth Barrett, son of the wealthiest family in town. Seth is dating Jenny’s mortal enemy, Ashleigh Goodling. When their paths cross, Jenny finds out that Seth is the one person she can get close to. Close enough to touch.

I went in to this novel not expecting a whole heck of a lot since it was one of the freebies I picked up on Amazon. It proved itself a billion times over. Well written, well executed, J.L. Bryan did a fantastic job of bringing Jenny and the whole town of Fallen Oaks to life.

I felt myself attached to Jenny from page one. Being a weirdo in high school myself, I felt that I could relate to her in a lot of ways. Misunderstood and just looking for any one to connect with, Jenny was not necessarily your typical heroine. What I have seen in a lot of books where the protagonist starts off as a weak, Mary-Sue type, they don’t go very far from that. They never gain strength or conviction. Jenny was so different from that. Plus, how many heroines do you know that can create blistering, infectious plagues with just a single touch?

The books antagonist, Ashleigh, was everything I have wanted to see out of an antagonist. She was mean, calculating, ruthless. I hated her with every fiber of my being. She takes the term “sociopath” to a whole different level. She was spoiled, privileged, and psycho, which always makes for a good bad guy.

And of course, Seth, the love interest. He was pretty darn likable. I kind of wish there had been a little more delving into who Seth was as a character, but I still liked him!

I also really liked the fact that Mr. Bryan showed how dangerous religion can be when used for the wrong reasons. He wasn’t afraid to show Ashleigh using God as the forefront for her evil plan.

To me, Jenny Pox is what a New Adult novel should be. It wasn’t trying to put on rose colored glasses and prance carefully along the line of Young Adult and New Adult. It jumped into its genre feet first. The whole point of New Adult is to be able to talk about sex, or talk about graphic and disgusting death and not have to hide it.

I totally loved it and recommend it to everyone! I will be reading the rest of this series!! It is still free for Kindle on Amazon, so I strongly suggest you get your copy while you can!